癖くせ球だま

く

せ

だ

ま

Meanings

1

junk ball; off-speed pitch

Baseball term for a pitch with unpredictable movement or change of pace, often used to deceive the batter.

彼かれは癖くせ球だまをうまく使つかって打だ者しゃを打うち取とった。
He got the batter out by skillfully using a junk ball.

2

unexpected move; unorthodox measure

Figurative extension from baseball: a tricky or unconventional action that catches someone off guard.

交こう渉しょうで癖くせ球だまを投なげて相あい手てを混こん乱らんさせた。
He threw an unexpected move in the negotiation and confused the other party.

3

statement with an ulterior motive; loaded remark

Only when written 曲球

Used when someone says something that seems innocent but has a hidden agenda. Restricted to the 曲球 spelling.

彼かれの提てい案あんは曲球くせだまで、裏うらに何なにかある気きがする。
His proposal feels like a loaded remark; I sense there's something behind it.

Kanji

癖mannerism, habit, vice
球ball, sphere
曲bend, music, melody

Related words

変へん化か球きゅう
変化球 is the standard baseball term for a breaking ball, while 癖球 emphasizes an awkward, deceptive, or junk-ball quality.
曲きょっ球きゅう
曲球 read as きょっきゅう is a general term for a curveball, whereas 癖球 read as くせだま specifically refers to a junk ball or tricky pitch.

Written forms

癖くせ球だま
Standard kanji spelling for the baseball sense and the figurative 'tricky move' sense.
曲球くせだま
Used specifically for the sense of a statement or request with an ulterior motive. Can also be read きょっきゅう, but that reading is not part of this word.
クセ球だま
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, common in casual writing.
くせ球だま
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, common in casual writing.
クセだま

Etymology

Compound of 癖 (くせ, 'habit; peculiarity') and 球 (たま, 'ball'). Originally a baseball term for a pitch with an awkward or deceptive quality, later extended figuratively to tricky moves and loaded remarks.